Summrs

Can you also use it flat, without the press? If so, steaks, hamburgers, pancakes, omelets, bacon, etc. I'm not really sure what the appliance is exactly... I know there are plain old "pannini presses" that have a very narrow specialty.

Summrs

Oh, ok. It seems like the press top is only to be used for sandwiches and things like bacon, where you'd want it to lie a little flatter. Without the top, though, you could certainly use it for the other stuff I mentioned.. pancakes, omelets, etc. If it's big enough, and not just sandwich sized.